2010:: The Year of DIVINE Order...2011::The Year of DIVINE Revelation

2010 was truly the Year of DIVINE Order. We were blessed to launch in a new city in the midst of an economic downfall and we were able to defy all odds that PRINT magazines were becoming obsolete. Not only did we print a high quality magazine in two cities but we also increased our circulation from 1,500 to 20,000 copies. Our staff grew to accomodate our launch to Nashville so I'm proud to introduce our new Nashville Regional Editor, Talene Anderson. Talene has been an awesome addition to the staff and she is a truly gifted and talented young woman. I'd also like to thank my Memphis Regional Editor, Dr. Nieika Parks for her hard work and spirit of excellence. Nieika helps to guide the editorial direction of DIVINE and has served as a wonderful support system for the past 3 1/2 years. I'm truly grateful for my Editorial team as well as my awesome Director of Photography Courtney Long , my Creative Director Tiffany Lambert , my Advisory Board members who work behind the scenes & the members of my Street Team who help to distribute & spread the word about DIVINE. In 2011, we're expecting to do even more and I believe that God will continue to use DIVINE Magazine to impact people across the nation!!!

As we prepare for 2011 let's take a moment to recap on DIVINE Magazine's 2010 Highlights :

BEAUTY SESSIONS/FELLAS NIGHT OUT EVENTS
We held our 3rd Annual BEAUTY SESSIONS event for ladies which include a Holiday Fashion Show and a Vendor Showcase. We had a blast celebrating the worth of all the beautiful ladies in the city. A Special Thanks to Deborah Parrish, LaJoyce Harris, Springhill Family Life Center, the models, the vendors, the deejay, the emcee and our guests. Our FELLAS NIGHT OUT event for men was awesome! We enjoyed Monday Night Football at a new venue and fellowshipped in a positive atmosphere. Both events were great successes and brought the realization that gathering in God’s name and doing life together are extremely important. A Special Thanks to Alan Norfleet of Norfleet Entertainment, all the Fellas who supported our events and the Ladies Who Love Football!

MULYP Nomination: I was nominated for a Young Agents of Change Award from the Memphis Urban League Young Professionals Organization. I didn't win but it sure was a great experience! It was a pleasure being nominated in the same categories with such great men & women doing amazing things throughout the city.

40 Movers & Shakers Under 40 Feature: My awesome staff & I worked hard to interview and feature 40 amazing men & women who are inspiring & impacting their communities & our world. It was a great feature & readers loved the idea. We are planning to make this an annual feature to highlight more & more awesome people. To receive a digital copy of the feature email divinemagazine@gmail.com. To view the extended feature click here.

2nd Annual Bowl-A-Thon & Silent Auction MISSION TRIP Fundraiser
I had the privilege to travel on a mission trip to Africa in 2009 and was so moved by the experience that she wanted to give others the opportunity to go global. The 2nd Annual Bowl-A-Thon & Silent Auction was a HUGE success & a check for $250 was presented to Life Church of Memphis to contribute to their Go Global Missions Trip Fund. To view the journal of my 10 day journey in Africa click here to view. A Special Thanks to Eboni Humes for operating the Silent Auction Room, Jessica Bailey for her incredible assistance, Artesia & Reggie Howard, all of our Sponsors, Cordova Bowling Center, our teams, and everyone who made generous donations.

CYBERWORLD CONNECTIONSWe created a number of Cyberworld Connections in order to increase our Internet presence. We're on Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, & now YouTube. In addition to THIS BLOG, we also distribute an electronic newsletter to hundreds of readers entitled Bringing You Everything Inspirational to provide information about the positive events that are taking place around the city and beyond. The e-newsletter is also a great opportunity for business owners to spread the word about their services and connect with potential customers. (To receive DIVINE Magazine's weekly e-newsletter email us). We also increased our readership through DIVINE Digital, our digital version of the print publication. We went from reaching 5,000+ people to over 20,000+ people by making the magazine available in both a print and digital format. In 2010, our plan was to double our readership numbers and we actually surpassed our goal. Praise God! A Special Thanks to Kristian Davis for serving as an awesome Social Media Coordinator and helping to make sure that our Online Presence was on point!

CYBERSTATS: Our Facebook Fan Page grew in leaps & bounds. In a matter of months, we increased from 700 to over 1400 Fans. Our MySpace page includes over 1400 Friends and our Twitter page has over 750 followers. Overall, we have over 3,500 Online Supporters!!!

PARTNERSHIPS We partnered with so many awesome organizations this year including the Pursuit of God Church, Methodist North, The Bubble Bistro, Reggie Howard Foundation, Naked Truth Singles Conference, WingStop Cordova, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Paradigm Dental Center, Norfleet Entertainment, R.J. Groove Kingdom Party, Light Records, PKP Agency, Ryan's Ranch, JoVenTosh Couture, LJH Icon, Memorable Moments Photography, Vizions Hair Salon, Judy Jacobs & The International Institute of Mentoring and a number of churches & ministries!

ADVERTISERS & SPONSORS DIVINE could not be where it is without the support of its Advertisers & Sponsors!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO Pursuit of God Church for Sponsoring the Fall Issue of DIVINE Magazine!!!

A Special Shout Out to Vizions Hair Salon for the Nashville Support & helping with a successful Launch to a new City as well as & Dorothy Ross Stores & Sarah's Stationery for their Support from Illinois & Georgia.

You know who you are and we appreciate all that you do & by sowing into DIVINE you are sowing right back into your business/ministry. May you, your family and your business/ministry experience extreme overflow and favor always.

READERS & SUPPORTERS Without your support our purpose of inspiring men & women to greatness would be null & void. Thank you for sharing this journey with us for almost 4 years and for growing with us. We aim to produce a high quality publication that exhibits excellence in every sense of the word. We also strive to create as many ways as possible to keep you connected and motivated in life to do what you're purposed to do! Know that you are awesome & your support is greatly appreciated.

In closing, 2010 presented challenges and obstacles, but nothing that God didn't allow or plan. I believe that God had to shake a few things up & now all things are in order. In 2011, I believe that if we continue to line up with God's will, then and only then will He give us DIVINE Revelation about how to navigate on this journey called LIFE. I pray that DIVINE Magazine has been a blessing to you in 2010 and that you will continue to support us in 2011 as we open our eyes to what God wants to reveal.

Remember Be Encouraged, Be Grateful, Be Inspired!

DIVINE Magazine Publisher

7 Questions For...

CARL CATRON

Authentic Counterfeit, Band Leader and Founder

"As a musician, I get to give away the greatest gift I have to offer to others..."

DIVINE: Who/What is your biggest inspiration?
CC: Musically speaking, I would have to say my grandfather Carl Thomas. He is responsible for my interest in piano and music. As far as the saxophone, it's Kirk Whalum.

DIVINE: You attend Berklee College of Music, what is that experience like? Name some famous musicians/artists who attended Berklee?
CC: Berklee is a great place. It's basically a place for musicians to learn at another level. You're saturated by music and musicians from all over the world all the time. Famous people include: Wyclef Jean, Trey Parker (Co-Creator of South Park) and Quincy Jones to name a few.

DIVINE: What's makes your band Authentic Counterfeit unique?
CC: We have a total of 10 members from around the Americas (North and South). Unique instruments like 14-string guitar and 6-string violin. And we reinterpret music in a way that makes you feel as if you're hearing it for the first time.

DIVINE: What’s the most rewarding part about being a musician?
CC: As a musician, I get to give away the greatest gift I have to offer to others and actually end up happier than if I had kept it. And that's a rare thing.

DIVINE: How did you become a saxophonist? What other instruments do you play?
CC: Saxophonist Kirk Whalum came to my elementary school and from the moment I heard him play, I knew what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be. I also play piano and attempt to sing (ha ha).

DIVINE: What advice do you have for other aspiring musicians/artists?
CC: Just try a lot of things. I believe that a lot of would-be musicians don't make it that far because they try ONE instrument, can't play it and give up. There are hundreds upon thousands of instruments out there and there's something for everyone. After you find your thing, work hard. If you want to do this, it's gonna require a lot of you. It's more demanding than it looks. More worth it than you can imagine.

DIVINE: What other projects do you have up your sleeves?
CC: We are currently trying to release several Hip Hop and R&B tunes on our websites this semester, and then working on tours and even more tunes for next semester.

Stay Connected to Carl & Authentic Counterfeit

MySpace: www.myspace.com/authenticcounterfeit
Twitter: www.twitter.com/acounterfeit
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authentic.counterfeit
Sonic Bids: www.sonicbids.com/authenticcounterfeit

5 Ways to Handle Brokenness

2010 was starting off to be a Happy New Year until I dropped my 6 pound laptop on my baby toe the first weekend of January. As the sensation of pain enveloped my entire body, I blacked out for about 60 seconds and after regaining consciousness I went on about my day. However, after several weeks of enduring a painfully swollen baby toe, I decided to get an X-ray. One day later, the doctor called to confirm my worst nightmare—I had broken my toe. I wanted to cry because I had never broken a bone in my body & also because I had walked around for months enduring great pain because I thought that my toe, although swollen, would be okay.

The doctor informed me that the only thing that I could do would be to buy some surgical tape & for the next few weeks tape my baby toe to the toe next to it. I was also instructed to place a cold pack on my toe for 15 minutes at a time as often as possible. While I doctored on my toe for weeks, God began to reveal to me the issues that we struggle with regarding brokenness.

There are so many people going through life with broken hearts, broken spirits and so on. When brokenness goes undiagnosed or worse it’s ignored, the person endures months even years of unnecessary pain that may be inflicted onto other people. You’ve heard the saying, “Hurt people, hurt people” and it is so true because people suffering from brokenness are in fact hurting on the inside and then they consciously and sometimes unconsciously hurt other innocent people. Not only is this unhealthy but the person suffering from brokenness fails to see the importance of getting the help that they need out of fear, shame or guilt.

5 Ways To Deal With Brokenness

1. Seek professional help from certified/licensed counselors, therapists, ministers, etc. “Where there is no guidance, the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.” Proverbs 11:14

2. Connect yourself with someone who is stronger than you in faith, experiences, and humility and who will consistently encourage you and intercede for you on your journey. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 / “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17

3. Learn how to have cooling off periods—if you find yourself abusing others (physically, mentally, verbally, etc), then you need to dig deeper to discover yourself, the root of your hurt and find ways to exhibit more self-control. “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil.” Psalm 37:8

4. Understand and accept that your path to healing is not an overnight process. It won’t be easy but stay vigilant about fixing the broken areas that exist in your life. “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness…”2 Peter 1:5-6

5. Envision yourself as a better person, a whole person with a loving heart, a happy spirit, and a positive attitude. Know that your future (relationships, success, dreams and goals, etc) looks better than your past. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones” Proverbs 17:22(KJV)

Brokenness is not a problem or issue too big for God. Surrender yourself to get the help that you need and take it one day at a time. I’ve had to make some major adjustments with my broken toe as it continues to heal but I have faith that in time it will be stronger and even better than before. Likewise, when the broken areas of your life become filled with peace, joy and contentment, you will also be stronger and even better than before!

Book References

Brokenness: The Heart God Revives by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
The Blessings of Brokenness by Charles Stanley
Healing for Damaged Emotions by David A. Seamands
Hope for Wholeness by Sharon L. Fawcett

So much has been given to us if we take the time to think about it. We’ve been given life, freedom and luxuries. The list could go on and on but we all have so much that we can be thankful for and now it’s time to turn the table and be generous. This year, I admonish you to be more generous with your time, your talents and your treasures.

We often tell people, “If you ever need anything let me know,” when what we really mean is “I hope that if you ever need me I’m able to help.” However, what a person who has experienced a sudden loss of a job, a loved one, a home, etc., needs most is consistency and simple generosity. If you’ve ever had to depend on someone else for a ride to work, gas money, to watch your children, or to even pray for you, then you know what it means for someone to keep their word (consistency) and you know the value of someone doing something for you out of the kindness of their heart (generosity). If you’ve never needed anyone just keep living, one day you will.

In John 15:12, Jesus reminds us of his commandment to love one another, as he loved us.
Jesus showed us a level of love that is incomprehensible in that he died on the cross for our sins before we were even born. “No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends” John 15: 13. Jesus considered us to be his friends long before we were even born and he expects us to be selfless and generous to our family, friends and even strangers. "As I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples..." John 13:24.

TIME
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reminds us that there is a time for everything. Be generous in the time that you give to God in reading the Word, worship and prayer. Be generous in the time that you give to your place of worship and make time to serve on a ministry team. Be generous in the time that you make for your family and for your friends. When you make time for others you plant seeds of prosperity, overflow and favor into your life. You need to also be generous in the time that you give yourself. You can’t be what you need to other people if you don’t take time for yourself.

TALENTS
You’ve been blessed with a talent to inspire, sing, encourage, dance and so on. If you are still trying to discover your purpose, draw from that thing that comes naturally to you. Whatever talent that you possess, you should be generous to share with others. If you have a talent to sing, but you aren’t a part of the Praise & Worship team, you might be missing out on an opportunity to change your life and someone else’s. If you have a heart for the homeless but you have never volunteered at a homeless shelter, then you may be missing your moment. Allow your talents to be a blessing to others. "A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men" Proverbs 18:16.

TREASURES
God has blessed many of us with nice homes, cars, boats, clothes, and money. You are not required to give away everything that you work hard for but you are expected to be generous to those in need. Don’t be so attached to things that you refuse to make room for more blessings that are stored up in heaven for you. When you give to others more will be given to you and you’ll be connected to the destiny of the person that you help. You also position yourself for overflow so that you can continue to pour into others.

Be generous this year & “Be Encouraged. Be Grateful. Be Inspired.”

Spring Forward

Spring is right around the corner and what a great reminder of

what's to come in this new season of your life.

During the Spring months we can expect to feel March winds, to see rainbows after the April rain showers and marvel in the beauty of blooming May flowers. The heavy coats will get stowed away, hot beverages will be replaced with cool ones and the search will be on for the number to call the lawn guy. The transitions that take place as we move from the Winter season to the Spring season should remind us of the changes that need to occur in our personal lives.

Here are a few tips to help you to SPRING FORWARD in your life:

• Let the onset of Spring remind you of those New Year resolutions that you've put on the back burner. Dust those resolutions off and put them back into motion.
• Strive for growth in the areas of your life that need it most-finances, health, goals, etc.
• Renew your relationships and friendships that have gotten stale due to busyness, neglect, etc.
• Celebrate life by rejoicing with every sunrise and sunset.
• On those rainy days, be reminded that God wants to drench you with His love and He wants to bless you in time.

Scriptures for Spring:

"He is not here; for He is risen..." Matthew 28:6

"Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." John 16:22

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy." Job 8:21

"...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love..." Ephesians 3:17

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

"Therefore, I say to you: "All things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you." Mark 11:24

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." Psalms 34:8

Why Tithe

Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed me with and by the way Lord I need_________, __________, and __________ (you fill in the blanks).

I bet many of you have had or heard prayers like that. We are programmed to believe that we can go to God for everything and He will bless us according to our needs. And believe me, it’s true! God will provide for your every need and even some of your wants if they line up with what God has for your life. But have you ever just stopped and asked, God what is it that I can bless you with or what can I do for you Lord? One of the simplest things you can do unto God is follow His word and be obedient. One way that I’ve learned to be obedient to God is through tithing. Simply put, tithing is giving God 10% of your increase. In my own words, tithing is giving God what is rightfully His without any questions, moans, groans, or I’ll get you on the next go around.

I remember when I was a young girl, I would take my loose change or the dollar my mother gave me and put it into the offering tray every Sunday. I would walk down the aisle and politely grace the church with my little dollar and walk back to my seat like I was doing something great because that was what I was taught. I saw church goers give an offering every Sunday but there was never a call by the pastor to bring tithes. That soon changed when I visited what is now my current church home. Over the past several years, I have learned that the first level of tithing is the action of developing a foundation of giving. One would think that I had a strong foundation since I gave my dollar every Sunday. As I grew in Christ, however, I realized that giving was just the start. The ultimate root of tithing was obedience unto God and to trust God with all you have.

Many people often state that they don’t understand the concept of tithing; therefore I offer this very simple explanation. For every dollar you earn set aside 10 cents for God. People often use the same excuse of not being able to trust the pastor or other members of the church to use the tithes wisely. My answer to that excuse is always the same, why worry about how the money is being used but rather trust God to fulfill His plans for your tithe. Those that misuse God’s tithe will have to give account for their actions and so will those who continue to willfully rob God through not paying tithes. Remember that the Bible states in Malachi 3:8 that “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, how do we rob you? In tithes and offerings.” Therefore reside in the fact that when you pay your tithes God sees you as worthy enough to receive a continual pouring of blessings that you won’t have room to receive.

We take a chance on much riskier things in life such as the stock market, the lottery, and get rich quick schemes, so why not take a chance on a God that has plans to prosper you and not harm you. God that doesn’t have to worry about how the economy is doing, or whether He picked the right Powerball number, but rather God can do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we could ever ask or think. God never charges you a transaction fee for conducting business on your behalf. I’ve come to the realization that no matter what the bank statement says I have in my account, I know through obedience my needs are met because of the deposit that I made in heaven. A withdrawal slip is never necessary because of my obedience to God and knowing in my heart and my mind that He will provide my every need. Nevertheless, remember you have to make a deposit in order to make a withdrawal.

Many people choose to overlook tithing by making the argument that tithing is of the Old Testament and not of the New Testament. My argument, however, is neither for the old or the new, but simply that God gave us the Bible to learn about Him and as a guide for life, therefore if it’s in the Bible then He must have thought it was important enough for it to be there. Therefore, we should avoid picking and choosing what we want to take from the Bible and live by, but choose to believe it in its entirety. I am not sure about you but I want all the blessings that God has for me. If tithing is one way to get more blessings than I have room enough to receive, I constantly say God here is all of me and a blank check, Lord you fill it in.

More Scriptures On Tithing:

“And now, behold, I have brought the first fruits of the land, which thou, O Lord, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord they God.” Deuteronomy 26:10

“Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21

*Stephanie Perry Johnson is a Senior Financial Analyst for FedEx and Contributing Writer for DIVINE Magazine.

A Plethora of Provision

When we think of God providing for us, we often limit our thinking to the financial aspect. However, God provides for us in a number of ways and the extent to which He provides for His children is incomprehensible. Let's take a look at a few ways:

Relational

In relationships, when the person that you've invested time and energy with turns out to be someone that is not right for your destiny, God provides a way out and He provides a second chance to meet the person who you were truly intended for and who was truly intended for you. In friendships, when seasons change and friends move out of our lives or their roles change in our lives, God provides us with new friends to fill the void or those who have been there all along step up. God provides us with parents and guardians, husbands, wives, children, pastors, educators, advisors, mentors and so on. "God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) Even in relationships, God makes the necessary provisions to mold us into the men and women that we are to become.

Health

When we neglect our temples, we are indeed destroying the bodies that God has entrusted to us. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us "You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." As many times as you've dealt with minor sickness like allergies, common colds, etc., God has provided you with doctors of varying expertise who instruct you how to care for your bodies, nutritionists who encourage you to eat correctly, and exercise coaches/personal trainers who show you how to properly exercise. God has even made provisions for your mental well-being by equipping psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors and life coaches to help you to cope with life in a more balanced way. Pastors, prayer partners, preachers and teachers all provide you with guidance to optimum spiritual health. Everything that we need for healthy minds, bodies and spirits has been provided to us by our Lord & Savior.

Strength
When life seems too hard, God provides us with supernatural strength to endure. We experience death, financial setbacks, health issues, challenging projects and tasks, dysfunctional relationships, and the results of poor choices. However, God knows how much we can bear and he gives us what we need right when we need it. God also gives us a way of escape when we are tempted to succomb to choices that make us weak or that make life much more difficult to handle. I Corinthians 10:13 ensures us that "no temptation (or trial) has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted (or tried) beyond what you are able, but with the temptation (or trial) will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." God provides us with strength and ways to escape the things that can harm us.

Financial
In these economic times, it is certainly important to acknowledge that God provides for us financially. From our jobs to our modes of transportation, we have everything that we need. We may not have everything that we want, but if we are able to make ends meet even 80% of the time, then we are farther along than most. Many of us have had to sacrifice higher paying jobs, vacations, simple luxuries and so on in order to survive. However, just as Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own flesh and blood and God provided for him, we have access to the same God, the same generous Provider. "And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh. As it is said to this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be provided." (Genesis 12:14).

As long as we remember to acknowledge God for the plethora of provision that He bestows upon us, then we can make it through any storm. If we are always reflecting on how far we've come and how God has provided for us before then we can have genuine confidence that He will do the same again and again. Even when life doesn't unfold as we expect it to, we have a Jehovah-Jireh watching and waiting to provide a ram in the bush and things will unfold exactly how God intends them to unfold.

The Value of Support

Support can be defined as bearing the weight of, providing aid or strength, defending, or providing a foundation. Those definitions would probably describe some of the nurturing relationships that exist with various people in your life. There aren't too many things that are more valuable than having a great support system. Christ reminds us in John 15:12-13 to love each other as He loved us. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Here are a few examples of support:

• You've been laid off your job and now you depend on others for financial support.
• Your neighbor needs her grass cut and you offer to help her out for free.
• You've started a new business and now a mentor provides you with moral support.
• The nursing home down the street needs volunteers and you gladly sign up.
• Death creeps into your family and you're immediately surrounded with love & unconditional support.
• Your place of worship & its leaders help you to grow spiritually and in return you begin to serve with different ministries to provide several levels of support.
• Being a parent is much easier with the support of a spouse, grandparents, etc.
• It's your freshmen year in college and you are adopted by a junior studying the same major and they offer to show you the ropes.
• You've taken sick and you are trusting a team of doctors and nurse to provide you with all the care and support that you need.
• You join a local cause to help save a country destroyed by a recent tragedy.
  

Willingness to provide some level of support to others should be a part of your DNA. If you're normally the one on the receiving end, start thinking of ways that you can sow into others. It doesn't have to be anything major you can actually start off taking tiny steps. Before long you will be so caught up in helping and loving on others that it won't seem like a chore but something that you adore.

On the other end of the spectrum is being open to receive support. If you've experienced a hardship in life or entered a phase in life where you seem to be faced with a plethora of unanswered questions, don't be too ashamed to reach out to others for help. God gives some people the gift of giving and they are fulfilling their purpose in life when they are allowed the privilege to bless you. Of course, someone providing support shouldn't be abused or confused but honored, respected and appreciated. When you've experienced someone who will sow into you with no strings attached, it will ignite a fire in you to keep the circle of love and support going.

Being supportive is contagious! It works both ways and adds great value to everyone's life.

Trying to Understand Death

Experiencing death whether it affects you personally or it affects a close friend is not easy. Even watching the news and hearing of tragedy occurring with people that you don't know can be unsettling. Death can sometimes leave us wondering why? It's easy to tell someone that their loved one has gone on to a better place or that we all have to go one day, but accepting this is not as easy as it sounds.

So what is the best way to cope with death or to at least understand death? Seeking counseling and focusing on that person's legacy can certainly bring healing and understanding. It can also be helpful to look at the life span of a seed. Before a seed can blossom into a beautiful flower or bear tasty, delicious fruit it in fact has to die first. In John 12:24 Jesus reminded Phillip and Andrew that "...Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."

So how does thinking about a seed falling to the ground help? All of our loved ones, friends, or even celebrities who we connect with have shared a part of themselves with us in some shape, form or fashion. Consider them a seed that has/had beautiful, vibrant life within. Each person, no matter how young or old, represents seeds of wisdom, humor, service, joy, kindness, protection and so on. **Pause a minute and think of the kind of seeds that the people in your life (living or deceased) represent.** As you stay close to (nurture/love) that seed and observe its many characteristics or principles that you can apply to different areas of your life, you are helping the seed to fulfill its purpose. However, in order for the seed to reach its full potential, it must die.

As hard as it may be to accept the death of a loved one, it's vital to think of them as having represented a seed in your life. You are in full blossom or headed in that direction because of those who came before you. All of our loved ones who have passed away have completed their cycle of life which enables us as their seedlings to bear the fruit that they instilled in us. Believe it or not, you are also responsible for planting seeds into the lives of others.

Find comfort in knowing that you have what it takes to carry on the legacy of those that you mourn. The grieving process is just that--a process, so take the time and the necessary steps to come to terms with losing the people that were special to you. In time, make sure to place yourself in an environment that is conducive to your continuous growth so that you can blossom as expected. Even when you experience setbacks--dry seasons, excessive amounts of water (tears), pruning, malnourishment (family/friend issues), or slow growth--remember that you are important and your survival is key to those who will learn from you.

Helpful Hint***Visit your favorite local nursery and find seeds of a flower, etc., that you can plant and watch grow to commemorate your loved one and to remind you to stay focused and to become everything you are destined to become.

Share your comments on how you've coped with the loss of a loved one.

Just Like New

I hope 2010 is off to a great start for you. I'm sure you've thought about all the ways that you plan to make this year better than 2009. Some of you have chosen not to make New Year's Resolutions but to instead strive each day to become better and better. Whatever your approach to the new year, know that God has already ordered your steps and He's just waiting for you to get on the right path. If you started in 2009 planting seeds for what you want to see take place in 2010, God just wants you to remain faithful. No matter what you set out to do, I'm sure you'll be a better, wiser person that's just like new! Let your past be your past and know that your future is bright.

Have a Great 2010 & Set Realistic Goals!

Three Areas To Consider Focusing On & A Few Examples to Consider:

Mind (Education, Read More, Financial Peace, Learn A Trade...)

Body (Exercise, Skincare, Healthy Eating, Wellness...)

Spirit (Meditate, Study God's Word, Develop Prayer Life...)

Feel free to Comment & Share Your Goals for 2010.
Also Share Useful Website/Online Communities That Other Readers Could Utilize